Patents Examined by Daniel Cahn
  • Apparatus and method for safely lowering user from structure with track-actuated hydraulic brakes
    Patent number: 8695759
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for safely lowering a user from a structure. The apparatus includes a user support component upon which the user is supported while being safely lowered from the structure. The apparatus includes a brake system that has two hydraulic brakes configured to apply first and second defined pressures on a brake pad against a track situated proximate the structure. The track is configured not to activate the first and second hydraulic brakes at an upper vertical section of the track to allow the apparatus to descend with a positive acceleration; activate only the first hydraulic brake at a middle vertical section of the track to allow the apparatus to descend with a substantially constant velocity; and activate only the second hydraulic brake at a lower vertical section of the track to allow the apparatus to descend with a negative acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Ralph L. Michael
  • Lightweight controlled descent system with an integral reserve suspension relief strap (RSRS)
    Patent number: 8678134
    Abstract: A lightweight safety harness comprises adjustable belt sections for the upper chest, waist and upper thighs. In one of two shoulder straps, there is stored a primary release pin and secondary brake strap. The shoulder straps criss-cross to form a soft, triangular shaped panel on the harness wearer's back. A spine brace divides that triangle in two. Near the top of that spine brace is a rack having at least one aperture wrapped with Kevlar® webbing. A long nylon rope serpentines back-and-forth, between sets of elastic loops running down opposed legs to the triangular panel before being threaded through the rack in a preferred pattern. At the base of that triangular panel, there is attached one end to a reserve suspension relief strap (RSRS). A cover extends the triangular panel but can be removed for inspection before every use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Norman E. Wood
  • Controlled descent system with an increased recovery range
    Patent number: 8651235
    Abstract: A lightweight safety harness comprises adjustable belt sections for the upper chest, waist and upper thighs. In one of two shoulder straps, there is stored a primary release pin and secondary brake strap. The shoulder straps criss-cross to form a soft, triangular shaped panel on the harness wearer's back. A spine brace divides that triangle in two. Near the top of that spine brace is a rack having at least one aperture wrapped with Kevlar® webbing. A long, thin composite rope serpentines back-and-forth, between sets of elastic loops running down opposed legs to the triangular panel before being threaded through the rack in a preferred pattern. At the base of that triangular panel, there is attached one end to a reserve suspension relief strap (RSRS). A cover extends the triangular panel but can be removed for inspection before every use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Norman E. Wood
  • Trailer rub rail portable ladder
    Patent number: 8640826
    Abstract: A trailer rub rail portable ladder includes a ladder portion and two rub rail mounting members. One end of a hand rail may be attached to each rub rail mounting member. The ladder portion preferably includes two ladder side rails, a plurality of step members and two ladder hinge members. The plurality of step members are retained between the two ladder side rails. The ladder hinge member is attached to one end of the ladder side rail. Each rub rail mounting member includes a rail slot and a pivot hole. A pivot pin is inserted through each ladder hinge member and each rub rail mounting member to pivotally retain thereof relative to each other. The rub rail slots of the two rub rail mounting members are engaged with a rub rail of a truck trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventor: Richard R. Beilstein
  • Secure adjustable roof rack
    Patent number: 8636109
    Abstract: The invention provides an adjustable roof rack comprising a roof base bracket comprising a lockdown point and two walls defining a channel containing a plurality of transverse adjustment points, a stable upright comprising a beam having a recessed first terminus and a U-shaped second terminus that is a slide protector, and a platform support comprising a beam that is rotatably attached to a terminus of the roof base bracket and to the U-shaped second terminus of the stable upright by pins, wherein the walls of the roof base bracket bear weight from the platform support and the stable upright, and the recessed first terminus engages one of the transverse adjustment points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: Dale M. Wallace
  • Compact climbing tree stand with telescoping footbed and a plurality of utilization modes
    Patent number: 8631906
    Abstract: A climbing tree stand for enabling a user to climb a tree or other substantially vertical object to be climbed adaptable for use in a plurality of different utilization modes including a tree stand mode, a backpack mode, and a chair mode, the tree stand including a seat platform assembly having a pair of tree engaging members associated therewith movable between a first storage position and a second operative position for selectively engaging the object to be climbed, a footbed assembly having a pair of tree engaging members associated therewith movable between a first storage position and a second operative position for likewise selectively engaging the object to be climbed, and a pair of cable members, each cable member being respectively adjustably attachable to the seat platform assembly and the footbed assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventor: Robert A. Phillips
  • Apparatus for elevating and positioning a work platform
    Patent number: 8631902
    Abstract: Apparatus for elevating, laterally and rotationally positioning an aerial work platform relative to a support structure such as a mobile vehicle. In one embodiment a platform supporting carriage is mounted for sliding movement along a support beam affixed to a boom and the platform is mounted on the carriage permitting rotation of the platform about a substantially vertical axis. In a second embodiment a four bar linkage is used for longitudinally moving a rotatable platform. One or more powered means may be provided for elevating, leveling and longitudinally and rotationally positioning the work platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: California Manufacturing & Engineering Co.
    Inventor: Gary Crook
  • Tank lifeline system
    Patent number: 8627923
    Abstract: Lifeline systems include a worker harness hooked and slideable along a cable attached to a ratchet mechanism and extending between posts, through stand off pipes, or the like and generally parallel to, but spaced from, sides of a tank. The lifeline system utilizes supports which can be removably attached to the reinforcement rib or the cantilevered edge of the tank. The supports can include fastening rings to connect to braces, stabilizers or the ratchet mechanism. The reinforcement rib is received in an omega shaped channel and sandwiched by a clamp located on the first side and moveable relative to a second side of the channel. The cantilevered edge is received between upper and lower plates extending in openings of C-shaped sides in a spaced, angled relation and is sandwiched by a fastener threadably received in the upper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Garlock Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Sidla, Sam Linhoff
  • Dual track ladder with brake mechanism that is automatically applied to the upper tracks to hold the ladder in place during use
    Patent number: 8622171
    Abstract: A ladder system includes an overhead track system, a ladder, a latch and a carriage. The overhead track system includes a first guide track and a second guide track. The carriage is operatively configured to move longitudinally along the first and second guide tracks and to move laterally between the first and second guide tracks. The ladder is pivotally mounted to the overhead track system. A lateral carriage brake is provided which prevents lateral movement of the ladder, and a longitudinal carriage brake is provided to prevent longitudinal movement of the ladder. The latch is operatively configured to affix the ladder to the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Material Control, Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Kerr
  • Portable vehicle-stabilized mast and fall protection system
    Patent number: 8616332
    Abstract: Deployable fall protection systems and components are disclosed for protecting against worker falls in cargo handling operations. Workers wearing harnesses are attached to a lifeline supported from overhead, the support being attached to ground-standing mast assemblies stabilized by the weight of a vehicle parked on a foot portion of the mast assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: IHI E&C International Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Witlam, Chad Alessi
  • Method for fitting a safety line cable on a tensioner
    Patent number: 8584796
    Abstract: A tensioner as well as a method for fitting a safety line cable on the tensioner. The tensioner designed for the safety of personnel attached to the cable while working under dangerous conditions. The tensioner has a fixing element configured to couple to an external element such as a wall and has two sections capable of separating and absorbing energy as a result of a fall of a worker while attached to the safety line cable. A section of the cable passes through and is crimped in a sleeve of the tensioner while the cable is kept under tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Capital Safety Group EMEA
    Inventor: Pascal Lara
  • Multi-point suspended scaffold
    Patent number: 8584803
    Abstract: A multi-point suspended scaffold utilizes a pair of spaced scaffold frames, each of which is provided with suspension cables which support the scaffold from outrigger beams of a building. The two scaffold frames are connected to each other by wire mesh trusses. These wire mesh trusses incorporate guard rails, toeboards, and an object retaining mesh. Upper and lower cross braces are also secured between adjacent ones of the scaffold frames. The cooperation of the wire mesh trusses, the cross bracing and the use of secured footboards provides a suspended scaffold that is structurally rigid while being easily assembled and disassembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: Roberto Ubaldo Arduino Sani
  • Crash safety device having a rope drive mechanism
    Patent number: 8579086
    Abstract: The invention relates to a crash safety device having a safety rope (105) wound onto a drum, a recuperating spring tensioned by the drum during the winding of the rope, and a locking device for blocking the drum from rotation in the rope unwinding direction during the crash of a person secured by the rope. A rope drive mechanism is provided in order to unwind the rope (105) from the drum and to slowly move the rope end having a hook (290) attached thereto toward such that a person can hook onto the safety rope (105). The drive mechanism has a motor (140) driving a rope drive wheel (210) via a freewheel (200) for lowering the rope end having the hook (290). In order to rewind the rope, the motor (140) is operated in a reverse direction of rotation at a controlled rotational speed in order to limit the speed at which the rope (105) is pulled up by the tensioned recuperating spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: CTI Systems S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Born, Sebastien Close, Sr., Frederic Arens, Richard Grossmann, Armin Kreuzer, Jean-Claude Dahner
  • Utility knife
    Patent number: 8567071
    Abstract: A utility knife comprises a blade carrier movable between retracted, extended and positions. A latch is movable with the blade carrier for locking the blade carrier in position. The blade carrier comprises a locking tab movable between a first position where the locking tab is engaged with the blade and a second position where the locking tab is released from the blade. An actuator moves the locking tab from the first position to the second position when the blade carrier is in the intermediate position and the actuator is moved to the unlocked position. The latch is engageable with a holder when the blade carrier is in the intermediate position. A retention member holds the blade on the plate where the retention member cannot be inserted into a notch on the blade. A blade guide guides the blade between the retention member and the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company
    Inventor: Ralf Strauss
  • Paint chip and drip catching ladder accessory
    Patent number: 8556034
    Abstract: The present invention is a paint chip and drip catching ladder accessory, which is used to prevent stray paint particles from hitting the surrounding area while painting. The present invention comprises a trough and two ladder attachments. The trough is used to catch both wet paint drops and dry paint chips from hitting the ground. The trough is also used to carry the stray paint particles to a wastebasket. Each of the ladder attachments have an insert that can be pushed into the outer side of a ladder, which allows the ladder attachments to be properly positioned along the ladder. The two ladder attachments extend away from the ladder in order to support the trough from the bottom. A plurality of grooves, which is located on the two ladder attachments, allows the trough to be adequately situated on the two ladder attachments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Christine Rice
  • System and method for managing operations on a peripheral surface of a building
    Patent number: 8540044
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for managing operations on a peripheral surface of a building. The system includes one or more cables wrapped around the peripheral surface of the building. Further, the system includes one or more wheeled devices capable of moving on the peripheral surface of the building. The one or more wheeled devices are operatively connected to the one or more cables. The one or more wheeled devices and the one or more cables are capable of moving on the peripheral surface of the building as an assembly. In addition, one or more instances of the assembly are operatively connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz City For Science and Technology (KACST)
    Inventors: Mazen A. Ba-abbad, Fahad Hassan Saeed Almalki
  • Utility knife
    Patent number: 8539677
    Abstract: A utility knife comprises a first housing portion carrying a strike plate and a second housing portion movable relative to the first housing portion between a closed position and an open position. The second housing portion carries a locking member. An overlapping locking mechanism locks the first housing portion to the second housing portion in a first direction when the first housing portion is moved relative to the second housing portion in a second direction. The locking member is movable between a first position in which it engages the strike plate to prevent the first housing from moving relative to the second housing in the first direction and a second position in which it does not engage the strike plate and allows the first housing to move relative to the second housing in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company
    Inventor: Ralf Strauss
  • Rescue harness
    Patent number: 8522918
    Abstract: The rescue harness is a personal use device for donning by an individual requiring escape from an elevated location in a building structure or the like. The harness includes a front latch and bracket having a removable combination glass cutter and hammer, and a removable explosive charge. A rope brake is also secured to the bracket, and a rope passes through the brake. The user of the harness removes the glass cutter and hammer combination, and scribes an opening on a glass window panel. The explosive charge is placed on the glass in the scribed area. A timer permits the user to momentarily leave the immediate vicinity. The hammer is used to break out any remaining glass shards after the explosion blows out the scribed area of glass. The user exits the structure through the hole in the panel, using the rope brake to control his or her descent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: Adel Abdulmuhsen Al-Wasis
  • Any tree hanging tree stand
    Patent number: 8522920
    Abstract: A tree stand that contains a y-axis frame adjustable along the y-axis, x-axis frame adjustable along the x-axis, and z-axis frame adjustable along the z-axis. In use, at least one securing strap secures the y-axis frame to a tree. To adjust the y-axis frame along the y-axis, the securing strap is loosened and the y-axis frame can be repositioned almost anywhere along the tree that will support the tree stand. To adjust the x-axis frame along the x-axis, the x-axis frame can be rotated around a rotational support means on the y-axis. To adjust the z-axis frame along the z-axis, a z-axis frame support is attached to the x-axis and connects to one of at least two z-axis adjustment means on the x-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventors: Eddie L. Salyer, Tom J Brooks
  • Rack attachable to scaffolding
    Patent number: 8499888
    Abstract: One or more rack modules may be semi-permanently attached to a deck to provide storage for material. Each rack module comprises a top horizontal member which may be adjusted in length to accommodate decks with different widths. A vertical member is attached to the top horizontal member; one or more horizontal arms extend out from the vertical member. One or more of the horizontal arms may be adjustable in length. Material may be stored on an arm or arms of a single rack module or may be disposed across multiple such arms, including across multiple such arms of multiple rack modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Scott Fontaine